Brussels, 14/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Competitiveness Council, meeting in Brussels on Thursday, marked its political agreement, through a qualified majority and without debate, in view of a common position on the proposal aimed at amending Community legislation relating to the labelling of foodstuffs (Directive 2000/13/EC). The aim is to enable citizens to know the exhaustive list of ingredients present in foodstuffs and alcoholic drinks offered for consumption, thanks to their indication on the product's label, that will allow people suffering from allergies to certain ingredients to identify them. The Council thus formalised its agreement that the "25% rule" be abolished by which, as we stand, the components of compound ingredients present in foodstuffs or alcoholic beverages in a quantity below 25% of the product need not be mentioned on the label, with the risk of concealing potentially allergenic substances. The threshold below which there will be no obligation to indicate the ingredients on the label has been reduced to 2% (instead of 5% as proposed by the Commission).
This result was welcomed by Bendt Bendtsen, Council President, as a breakthrough for consumer safety in general, and, in particular, people suffering from allergies or allergic to certain food ingredients, as it will facilitate the informed choice of products to be consumed without fear. Also delighted with the result, David Byrne, commissioner for health and consumer protection, who declared: "the complete labelling of ingredients responds to the repeated demands of consumers of being better informed on the composition of the foodstuffs they buy. This clearly illustrates the way in which the Union works to meet the needs of their citizens in their daily lives".
Austria voted against, as it opposes the obligation to label wine in case of the presence of sulphate.
The text of the agreement provides for ingredients entering to the tune of less than 2% of the finished product being allowed to be listed after the other ingredients. For fruit, vegetables and mushrooms use in mixes as ingredients, the text provides of their being able to be regrouped in a list of ingredients under the name "fruit", "vegetables" or "mushrooms", followed by the wording "in variable proportion" and the list of fruit, vegetables of mushrooms present. As for compound ingredients, their mention on the label will only be compulsory when their composition is determined by a Community regulation. Two Commission declarations are annexed to the agreement. The first stipulates that it will be submitted to the Food Scientific Committee for a request for opinion in view amending Annexe 1 of the directive (list of ingredients recognised as potentially allergenic). The second refers to the Community legislation the directive refers to (harmonised standards for certain food such as chocolate and cocoa products, fruit juice, jams and marmalades, for example). The Council's common position will be adopted later, following consultation of the text of the political agreement.